Halsey Unmasks Vulnerability and Power in New Single ‘Ego’

Halsey’s latest single ‘Ego’ offers a powerful blend of pop-punk and power-pop, fusing anthemic production with a melancholic undercurrent. Lifted from her forthcoming album, ‘The Great Impersonator’, due October 25th, the guitar-driven track immediately stands out, not just for its nineties-inspired soundscapes, but for its emotional weight. 

Building on the tone set by previous singles ‘The End’ and ‘Lucky’, ‘Ego’ delves into the deeply personal story of Halsey’s struggle with lupus and a rare T-cell disorder, which she kept hidden from the public for two years.

The song’s raw lyricism lays bare the daily toll of her condition, with Halsey singing in the opening lines, “I'm caught up in the everyday trend / Tied up by invisible thread / Walking down a razor-thin edge / And I wake up tired, think I'm better off dead”. These words paint a vivid picture of her emotional and physical exhaustion, and as the track progresses, it culminates in a sombre yet impactful confession: “I’m really not that happy being me”. This stark admission hints at the broader themes of, ‘The Great Impersonator’, where Halsey explores the metaphorical masks we wear to hide our pain, touching on the idea of self-perception and public image.

The accompanying music video, directed by Halsey herself, adds another layer of complexity to the track. Playing both husband and wife, Halsey stages a surreal, action-packed narrative where a quiet dinner quickly escalates into a tense, cat-and-mouse chase. The male version of Halsey, dressed as a cop, contrasts sharply with the female version, styled as a Nikita-esque assassin. The video’s violent choreography and suspenseful direction echo the internal struggle and emotional battle that ‘Ego’ so vividly portrays. Fans have speculated that the visual nods to the ‘Black Widow’ symbolically represent the duality within Halsey herself—both fragile and fierce.

With ‘Ego’, Halsey offers a deeper look into her journey, cementing the fact that each release from ‘The Great Impersonator’ provides a clearer understanding of her struggles. It’s a bold, dynamic track that balances vulnerability with empowerment, pushing the boundaries of her sound while maintaining the confessional tone that has always been a hallmark of her music. If ‘Ego’ is any indication of what’s to come, her upcoming LP will be one of her most compelling works to date.

Danielle Holian

@danielleholian_

Image: ‘The Great Impersonator’ Official Album Cover